Lakhvi's release order yet to be received by jail officials

Lahore: While the Pakistan government's law experts are finding a way to keep LeT operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi behind the bars, the jail authorities have not yet received the release order of the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind.

"We are discussing several options to keep Lakhvi behind the bars. A decision in this regard is likely to be taken anytime on Friday," a law officer involved in the government's consultation with its law team over the matter told reporters here.

He admitted that it is difficult for the government to go for the option of detaining 55-year-old Lakhvi again under the Maintenance of Public Order which had been suspended twice by the Islamabad High Court and Lahore High Court.

"We also discussed challenging the Lahore High Court verdict in the Supreme Court but at the moment the government will have to do something before the release of Lakhvi," the officer informed.

The Lahore High Court on Thursday suspended the Punjab government's order to detain Lakhvi under a security act and ordered his immediate release.

On the other hand, Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail authorities have not yet received the Lahore High Court order to release Lakhvi.

Lakhvi and six others have been charged with planning and executing the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people and wounding over 300.